Harry W. Mellen, 82

A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. today, Monday, Feb. 16, at the First Presbyterian Church in Harbor Springs. The Rev. Thomas Cook officiated.

Harry was born April 12, 1921, in Highland Park, the son of Harry and Margaret (Barth) Mellen. He grew up in Detroit and graduated from Detroit Central High School in 1939. He attended University of Detroit and graduated in 1943 with a degree in accounting.

Harry served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theater as an infantryman.

Following the service, he went to work for Ross Roy Advertising as an auditor and later became the controller and finally the chief financial officer and senior vice president in 1961. He retired in 1981 and continued on the board of directors for 10 years and as a consultant for five years. Also in 1981, he and his wife moved to Cross Village, where they have been since.

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Harry was a member of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, National Association of Accountants, served on the board of directors of the Detroit United Way, Goodwill Industries, Northeast Guidance Clinic and was treasurer of the Hannah YMCA, Franklin Wright Settlement House and Grosse Pointe War Memorial.

He was a trustee of the Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church and served as treasurer and trustee of the Grosse Pointe Memorial Church. He was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Harbor Springs and treasurer of the Redpath Memorial Presbyterian Church in Cross Village.

He was a special life member of the Detroit Boat Club and served as director and treasurer, a director of the Grosse Pointe Hunt Club, membership chairman of the Indian Village Tennis Club, a member of Birchwood Country Club. He was a board member of the Little Traverse Conservancy, Harbor Springs United Way, was treasurer of the Emmet County Lakeshore Association, treasurer of the Cross Village Community Services and a member of SCORE (senior corps of retired executives). He was an avid tennis player and sailor.

Harry is survived by his wife, Mary Elisabeth (Hitchcock); three sons, Andy Mellen of Apollo Beach, Fla., Thom Mellen of Pinckney, Fred Gillespie and his wife, Pamela Counan, of Marietta, Ga.; one daughter, Margaret Snider and her husband, Larry, of Columbus, Ohio; six grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Little Traverse Bay Humane Society or the Bay Bluffs Medical Center.